Edward f



(No Model.)

B. P. BLYTHE. TOY.

No. 453,034. Patented May 26, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDW'ARD F. BLYTIIE, OF

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO \VILLIAM S. HASSALL,OF SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 453,034, dated May 26,1891.

Application filed December 1, 1890. Serial N0. 373,202- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD F. BLYTHE, a citizen of the United States,and aresident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovements in Toys, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to make a toy figure having the capacityof moving its limbs so as to change from one position to another, themovement being dependent upon the expansion of an elastic portion of thetoy. This object I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a sideview, partly in section, of one form of toy embodying my invention.Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are side views illustrating the action of the toy, andFigs. 5 and G are views illustrating a special plan of making a toy inaccordance with my invention.

The toy shown in Figs. 1 to 4 consists of a representation of a humanfigure having a body A, head B, arms D, and legs F, the body being inthe form of an elastic ball, and the head, arms, and legs being soattached to this elastic body that when the ball is compressed bythrusting the back portion of the same into the front portion the armsand legs will be projected to front and rear, as shown in Fig. 1. If thefigure is then laid upon a fiat surface with the convex portion of theball representing the stomach portion of the figure downward and air ispermitted to enter the ball through the opening a, the gradual expansionof the ball will cause the arms, and legs to be drawn under the body, asshown in Figs. 2 and 3, and as the legs are shorter than the arms theywill be finally drawn so far beneath the body that the center of gravityof the figure will be shifted to the rear of the bearing-points of thelegs and the figure will suddenly move backward, so as to assume asitting posture, as shown in Fig. 4, by the time the ball constitutingthe body of the toy has become fully expanded. In order to facilitatethis last movement, the feet I) of the toy are preferably provided withprojecting prongs cl, which serve to take hold upon the surface uponwhich the toy rests,

so as to constitute a bearing, upon which the toy can readily swingbackward in assuming the final sitting posture. By making the armsshorter than the legs the center of gravity will be at the front of thefigure and the latter will swing forward, so as to turn a somersault.

In the toy shown in Figs. 1 to l the arms and legs of the figure aremolded or otherwise formed integral with the body; but in many cases thearms and legs may be independent of the body and may behungthereto, soas to be free to swing. For instance, in Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown aconstruction in which the ball A, constituting the body; has around thesame a band f, to which are hung levers D and F, the duplex projectingportions of which constitute, respectively, the arms and legs of thefigure; or they may simply be cores or centers for such arms and legsthe shorter members of the levers being acted upon by the ball as itexpands, so as to cause the desired movement of said levers. An internalspring may, if desired, be employed to add to the resiliency of theball.

It will be understood that my invention is not limited to any specialfigure or to the specific movements of the figure which Ihave shown anddescribed, as other figures having limbs moved by the expansion of theelastic body may be devised within the scope of my invention.

I-Iavingthus described inyinvention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent- 1. A toy figure having a compressible elastic bodypossessing an inherent tendency to expand when released from pressure,andlimbs which are caused to change their position by the expansion ofsaid elastic body, substantially as specified.

2. A toy figure having an elastic body with limbs projecting therefromand so proportioned in respect to each other that as the body expandsthe limbs will be drawn under the same and the center of gravity will beshifted, so as to cause the figure to overbalance, substantially asspecified.

3. A toy figure having an elastic body possessing an inherent tendencyto expand when relieved from pressure, and having armsand legsprojecting from opposite parts of said body, said legs having feet eachwith a prong projecting forwardly beyond the same, substantially asspecified.

4. Atoy figure having a compressible elastic body possessing an inherenttendency to expand when relieved from pressure, and levers -11nn g tosaid body, the projecting arms of said I levers forming or aiding toform the limbs of lo the figure, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

EDWARD F. BLYTI-IE.

Witnesses:

EUGENE ELTERICH, HARRY SMITH.

